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Birdhead on CD

'With 'Birdhead,' the title track from his new self-released CD, 23-year-old Boston trumpeter ALEX TOTH hits the hard-bop sweet spot: a driving funk rhythm and blues-drenched line, with a little outta-space electric-guitar bridge thrown in for good measure. And his trumpet playing has teeth - clean, bright tone and slow-boil solos with the requisite nasty-edge Lee Morgan vibrato when necessary. Toth (who's also in the reggae outfit John Brown's Body) and his band the LAZYBIRDS (featuring another John Brown member, alto-saxophonist/vocalist Kalmia Traver) play...' - Boston Phoenix 'I can tell you [Alex] put the time in, keep up the good work.' - Wynton Marsalis 'Massive Massive Massive. The Lazybirds are energy in greatness!' -John Brown's Body EJAZZ NEWS review of BIRDHEAD: 'The Lazybirds is a unique sextet led by trumpeter Alex Toth and girl friend Annakalmia Traver who plays the alto saxophone and provides the vocals on the group's new release, Birdhead. Rounding out the Lazybirds cast are Russ Flynn (bass), Geoffrey Kim (guitar), Peter Krag (Keyboard) and Dan Ryan (drums). This new album contains ten tracks of original tunes from Toth and other members of the band recorded on four different sessions from August 2006 to January 2007. 'The music is contemporary in flavor with a range of different grooves. The title cut opens the set with a hard-driving rhythm and some intricate changes. This is followed by Ms. Traver's voicing of "Mr. Samsa," which features Krag on a tender keyboard run and Traver again this time on the alto. After a nice introduction by bassist Flynn, Toth takes center stage with a formidable trumpet howling on his own hard-bop composition "Speak." ... "Just Like You," grabbed my attention with the sophisticated and moody changes that made the piece interesting and enjoyable. I loved Krag's composition and arrangement of "Petals"... 'The only ballad found on the album comes from "On Missing," a warm, light harmony that incidentally, along with "Petals," are marvelous tunes that would lend themselves to big band arrangements. Traver gives a wonderful alto solo performance on this tune backed up by excellent solo phrasing from Toth and the guitarist. Drummer Ryan contributes one terrific chart with his lively and percussive "Chimera." Last but certainly not least is the swinging up-tempo finale of "Tommy's Reprise," another winner and fitting end to an impressive set of modern jazz music. 'Toth and his Lazybirds band mates deliver an entertaining set of rich harmonies and boppish grooves with Birdhead, an album of contemporary jazz certain to draw interest from a wide range of jazz audiences.' -Edward Blanco EJAZZNEWS.com.

'With 'Birdhead,' the title track from his new self-released CD, 23-year-old Boston trumpeter ALEX TOTH hits the hard-bop sweet spot: a driving funk rhythm and blues-drenched line, with a little outta-space electric-guitar bridge thrown in for good measure. And his trumpet playing has teeth - clean, bright tone and slow-boil solos with the requisite nasty-edge Lee Morgan vibrato when necessary. Toth (who's also in the reggae outfit John Brown's Body) and his band the LAZYBIRDS (featuring another John Brown member, alto-saxophonist/vocalist Kalmia Traver) play...' - Boston Phoenix 'I can tell you [Alex] put the time in, keep up the good work.' - Wynton Marsalis 'Massive Massive Massive. The Lazybirds are energy in greatness!' -John Brown's Body EJAZZ NEWS review of BIRDHEAD: 'The Lazybirds is a unique sextet led by trumpeter Alex Toth and girl friend Annakalmia Traver who plays the alto saxophone and provides the vocals on the group's new release, Birdhead. Rounding out the Lazybirds cast are Russ Flynn (bass), Geoffrey Kim (guitar), Peter Krag (Keyboard) and Dan Ryan (drums). This new album contains ten tracks of original tunes from Toth and other members of the band recorded on four different sessions from August 2006 to January 2007. 'The music is contemporary in flavor with a range of different grooves. The title cut opens the set with a hard-driving rhythm and some intricate changes. This is followed by Ms. Traver's voicing of "Mr. Samsa," which features Krag on a tender keyboard run and Traver again this time on the alto. After a nice introduction by bassist Flynn, Toth takes center stage with a formidable trumpet howling on his own hard-bop composition "Speak." ... "Just Like You," grabbed my attention with the sophisticated and moody changes that made the piece interesting and enjoyable. I loved Krag's composition and arrangement of "Petals"... 'The only ballad found on the album comes from "On Missing," a warm, light harmony that incidentally, along with "Petals," are marvelous tunes that would lend themselves to big band arrangements. Traver gives a wonderful alto solo performance on this tune backed up by excellent solo phrasing from Toth and the guitarist. Drummer Ryan contributes one terrific chart with his lively and percussive "Chimera." Last but certainly not least is the swinging up-tempo finale of "Tommy's Reprise," another winner and fitting end to an impressive set of modern jazz music. 'Toth and his Lazybirds band mates deliver an entertaining set of rich harmonies and boppish grooves with Birdhead, an album of contemporary jazz certain to draw interest from a wide range of jazz audiences.' -Edward Blanco EJAZZNEWS.com.